Up, Up and Away

The third in the series of Melbourne balloon launches by Phil Pawlowski will take place on or after 12th of November - weather permitting!

Bryan VK3YNG and other amateurs are again helping with amateur radio beacons and possibly an APRS transmitter so that the balloon can be tracked more easily.

The very first balloon, launched back in March, was finally found last month by a farmer near Alexandra, about 120km North East of Melbourne.

This balloon did not have a beacon transmitter but relied on a mobile phone and onboard GPS for reporting its position to the recovery team. Unfortunately the phone stopped working not long after lift-off (possibly hearing too many base stations) and was lost from sight not long after.

The balloon payload, complete with film camera, was handed in to the Alexandra Police, who were able to charge up the mobile phone and contact the owner by calling the last number dialled!

When Phil picked up the payload and processed the film he found some great aerial shots taken along the way.

They can be seen at:
members.optusnet.com.au/~philpawlowski/index.htm

Source: Wireless Institute of Australia, nerg news

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